a letter to god -

Summary
A Letter to God by G.L. Fuentes tells the story of Lencho, a poor but devoted farmer who holds an unshakeable faith in God. Lencho eagerly anticipates a good harvest, but his hopes are shattered when a severe hailstorm destroys his crops entirely, leaving him devastated and fearful of starvation. Despite his dire situation, Lencho’s strong faith leads him to write a letter to God, asking for one hundred pesos to replant his fields and provide for his family.

He mails the letter, and when the postman reads it, he is amused but also moved by Lencho’s childlike trust. The postmaster, touched by Lencho’s belief, decides to help by collecting donations from his colleagues and even contributes part of his salary to send Lencho the money. However, they can only gather seventy pesos, which the postmaster places in an envelope addressed to Lencho.

When Lencho receives the envelope the following Sunday, he is neither surprised nor grateful. Instead, he becomes angry, believing that God would never send him less than the full amount. Convinced that the postal employees must have stolen some of the money, Lencho writes another letter, accusing the post office workers of being “a bunch of crooks” and urging God to send the rest of the money directly, avoiding the post office.

Conclusion of A Letter to God
This story highlights Lencho’s unwavering faith, demonstrating how one’s belief in God can give hope and resilience during hardship. At the same time, it underscores the kindness and compassion of the post office employees, who went out of their way to help a stranger. The story also humorously reflects on the misunderstandings that can arise from such faith, as Lencho misinterprets the workers’ generosity and doubts their honesty. Through this tale, we learn about faith, humanity, and the sometimes ironic ways that acts of kindness are perceived.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 5)

Question 1:
What did Lencho hope for?
Answer:
Lencho hoped for a heavy downpour or at least a light shower to nourish his ripe corn crops, ensuring a successful harvest.

Question 2:
Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Answer:
Lencho compared the raindrops to ‘new coins’ because he believed the rain would bring prosperity. The larger drops resembled ten-cent pieces and the smaller ones five-cent coins, symbolizing the wealth a good harvest would bring him.

Question 3:
How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
Answer:
The gentle rain suddenly turned into a violent hailstorm as strong winds blew and large hailstones, like frozen pearls, pelted down. The storm lasted for an hour, completely destroying Lencho’s cornfields and stripping the plants of their flowers.

Question 4:
What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?
Answer:
When the hailstorm ended, Lencho was overwhelmed with sorrow and hopelessness. He realized the storm had devastated his entire crop, leaving his family without food for the coming year. The future seemed dark and uncertain to him.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 6)

Question 1:
Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
Answer:
Lencho had unwavering faith in God. He believed that God sees everything, even the deepest thoughts in a person’s heart. Trusting in divine help, Lencho wrote a letter to God requesting a hundred pesos to reseed his fields after the hailstorm destroyed his crops.

Question 2:
Who read the letter?
Answer:
The postmaster read Lencho’s letter, which was addressed to God.

Question 3:
What did the postmaster do then?
Answer:
At first, the postmaster laughed upon reading the letter. However, he was soon touched by Lencho’s deep faith in God. Determined not to break this trust, he decided to help by collecting money from his employees and friends, contributing part of his own salary, and sending the gathered amount to Lencho.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 7)

Question 1:
Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Answer:
No, Lencho was not surprised at all to receive a letter with money. His unwavering faith in God made him certain that his request would be fulfilled. He fully believed that God would answer his plea and provide the help he needed.

Question 2:
What made him angry?
Answer:
Lencho became angry when he discovered only seventy pesos in the envelope instead of the hundred he had requested. He was convinced that God could neither make a mistake nor deny him help. This led him to believe that the post office employees had stolen the missing thirty pesos.

Thinking about the text (Page 7 – 8)

Question 1:
Who does Lencho have complete faith in? Which sentences in the story tell you this?
Answer:
Lencho had complete and unwavering faith in God. He believed that God sees everything and helps those in need. The following sentences from the story highlight his strong belief:

“But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.”
“All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.”
“God: if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.”
“He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside, and still troubled, went to town.”
“God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.”
“It said: ‘God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much.’”

Question 2:
Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Answer:
The postmaster was deeply touched by Lencho’s sincere faith in God. To preserve Lencho’s strong belief, he decided to help him by collecting money from his colleagues and contributing a portion of his own salary. He signed the letter as ‘God’ to make Lencho believe that his prayers had been answered by the Almighty, ensuring that Lencho’s faith remained unshaken.

Question 3:
Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
Answer:
No, Lencho did not attempt to find out who had sent the money because he was certain it had come directly from God. His unshakable faith in God made him believe that no one else could have fulfilled his request. Lencho was convinced that God was aware of his hardship and had responded to his plea without any doubt.

Question 4:
Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation?
Answer:
Lencho believed that the post office employees had stolen the missing thirty pesos from the envelope. He was certain that God could not have made a mistake or refused him, so he accused the postal workers of dishonesty, calling them crooks.
The irony in this situation lies in the fact that the very people Lencho suspects of theft—the post office employees—were actually the ones who generously helped him. They collected money to support him, yet he unknowingly doubted their integrity. This unexpected twist makes the situation both ironic and thought-provoking.

Question 5:
Are there people like Lencho in the real world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate words from the box to answer the question.
greedy naive stupid ungrateful
selfish comical unquestioning

Answer:
It is rare to find people like Lencho in the real world. He can be described as naïve and unquestioning due to his innocent and absolute belief in God. Despite being literate and capable of writing a letter to God, he did not question the practicality of his actions. His deep faith led him to believe that God would directly send him money. However, Lencho was neither stupid nor greedy; his intentions were sincere, driven by the need to support his family.

Question 6:
There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?

Answer:
The conflict between humans and nature is depicted through the destruction of Lencho’s crops by the hailstorm. Lencho had hoped for rain to nourish his fields, but nature turned harsh, ruining his entire harvest and leaving him in despair. This highlights how unpredictable and uncontrollable nature can be, causing hardship for humans.

The conflict between humans themselves is shown in Lencho’s reaction after receiving the money. Although the postmaster and his colleagues selflessly collected and sent him money to protect his faith in God, Lencho wrongly accused them of stealing part of it. This misunderstanding reflects how distrust among people can create conflict, even when kindness and good intentions are involved.

Summary
Dust of Snow by Robert Frost is a short yet profound poem that reflects on the power of nature to alter our emotions and outlook. The poet uses a crow, a dusting of snow, and a hemlock tree to set a mood that initially appears bleak or sorrowful, as these elements traditionally symbolize gloom or sadness. In this context, the poet’s mood mirrors the somber aspects of nature around him, suggesting that he feels weighed down by negative emotions.

However, in a sudden moment, a crow shakes the snow off a hemlock tree, causing the dust of snow to fall on the poet. This small, seemingly insignificant action sparks a positive change in his outlook, lifting his spirits and lightening his mood. Through this simple interaction with nature, the poet’s perspective shifts, reminding us that even the smallest moments can have a powerful impact on our mindset.

Conclusion of Dust of Snow
The poem carries a beautiful message about how our attitude can shift through the simple, unanticipated beauty of life. It encourages us to appreciate and find joy in the small, everyday moments, which can alleviate our worries and brighten our outlook. Frost’s poem captures the essence of finding positivity in unexpected ways, showing us that a single, small experience can change our day for the better.

Summary
In Fire and Ice, Robert Frost presents two possible ways the world might end—through fire or ice, each representing contrasting human emotions. The poet aligns fire with intense emotions like desire, greed, and lust. These are fiery passions that, when left unchecked, can consume people, leading them toward selfishness, cruelty, and ultimate destruction. Frost suggests that this drive, like a fire, spreads quickly and has no natural end, resulting in chaos and self-destruction.

On the other hand, Frost portrays ice as a symbol of rigidity, indifference, and hatred—emotions that lead people to become cold and uncaring about the needs or suffering of others. This icy indifference isolates people, creating divisions and a sense of harshness that, like fire, has the power to bring about ruin.

Conclusion
The poem serves as a metaphorical warning, reflecting on the dangers of both unchecked passion and indifference. Frost conveys that without control over these strong emotions, humanity may face its own end. Ultimately, Fire and Ice reminds readers that emotions have a profound impact on life and, if allowed to dominate, can lead to disaster.